Last updated on August 25th, 2023 at 12:08 pm
Hoya villosa is a hoya plant with delicate flowers. It’s also known as the “villosa hoya.” This hoya is hardy and can grow in bright indirect light, but it prefers filtered sunlight to thrive. Hoya villosa flowers are short-lived and do not last more than three weeks after blooming; however, they produce an abundance of small white flowers that make them worth growing.
Hoyas are a type of hoya plant that can grow up to 30 feet tall! They have small, oval-shaped leaves and produce many flowers on the vine. Hoyas are native to India but can also be found in China, Thailand, and other areas of Southeast Asia.
The hoya villosa comes from the hoya genus and is considered one of the most popular types of hoyas because it is so easy to care for. This variety has smaller leaves than some other varieties, making them much easier to fit into tight spaces like indoor containers or flower boxes outside your home.
Hoya villosa is a hoya plant that has been bred for its large, showy flowers. These plants are very easy to care for and they do not require much light or water. They can be propagated by leaf cuttings, so they make an excellent houseplant choice.
The hoya’s leaves are leathery and thick with small teeth on the edges. It produces long-lasting white flowers in the summertime. The hoya is also known as “villous hoya” because of this quality of being covered in hairs that make it feel velvety to touch!
Origin and description
Hoya villosa is a species in the genus Hoya, that has been described by William Roxburgh. It is commonly known as the Indian wax plant. It is a species native to the Indomalaya ecozone, but it can also be found in parts of Australasia.
Hoya villosa is an evergreen climbing plant with somewhat succulent leaves that are about 0.25 inches long and have short hairs along their margins. The flowers are pinkish-white funnel-shaped blooms that are about one inch in diameter.
They are native to the Indian Subcontinent, China, and Southeast Asia including Vietnam, Thailand, Malaysia, Sumatra, and Java. It can be found growing on rocks or trees at elevations up to 500m.
It was once believed that Hoya Villosa could not survive outdoors in the United States, but it has been shown that Hoya Villosa can grow outdoors as far north as Washington DC.
Hoya plants are commonly used in bonsai and there is a good chance you will find them at your local garden center if you decide to buy one for yourself.
Hoya villosa is a perennial plant with thick roots that have adapted to cling onto trees or other objects for support. Although it can grow into a bush due to its aerial root system, hoya villosa only grows at about three meters high. The leaves of this particular species are large and have a dark green color with hairs on the surface.
It is is notable for its unique, white to pink colored flowers that have five petals and are about four centimeters long. The plant’s vines can be around three meters in length, although they will often intertwine themselves amongst other plants or trees.
Hoya villosa propagation
Hoya villosa is a very good plant for beginners. It can be propagated by cuttings or layering, and it will root quickly in plain potting soil with little to no care required. For the best results, use rooting hormone on your Hoya before sticking them into their new homes. The leaves are thick enough that your cuttings won’t dry out too quickly, and they should have a decent chance of rooting in plain soil.
Hoya villosa care
Hoya villosa care is easy and straightforward. There are many different types of hoya plants, yet all require similar conditions for optimal growth. While the specific needs will vary from plant to plant, there are a few general guidelines you can follow during your own hoya care routine.
Light requirements
Hoya Villosa is easy to grow indoors. It requires medium indirect light but can take more direct sun if given water frequently. Hoya plants need bright light to bloom and produce flowers, so avoid placing them in low-light areas like under fluorescent lights or in the shadows of other plants. They do well in a temperature range of 55-68 degrees Fahrenheit.
Hoya Villosa does well in normal room temperatures, but likes being kept on the humid side with frequent misting or a humidity tray filled with pebbles and water. Use a good quality potting mix that drains quickly to prevent root rot from occurring.
Soil/potting mix
Soil for hoya plants should be well-draining. They can grow in a soilless mix or potting soil. Hoya will also do fine in most cacti/succulent mixes, but the faster-draining ones are best.
Watering
Hoya plants should be kept moist but not soggy. Watering frequency will vary depending on light and temperature, with more water given in lower light conditions or warmer temperatures. During the summer when it is warm outside, hoya villosa can take a lot of water – give about twice as much as normal every week to keep them humid. During the winter, cut down on watering slightly to promote blooming.
Water hoya plants from above with tepid water so that it does not get blasted up into the leaves which can cause spots or leaf drops. If you do notice spots after watering, try moving your plant to a cooler location and use filtered sunlight, as sun coming through a window can concentrate water spots.
When watering hoya villosa, give enough so that the entire soil mass is evenly moist and there are no dry areas left in between the potting mix or soilless medium. The amount of moisture will vary depending on your conditions – if it has been very dry indoors, then you may need to mist the plant every day.
If you are growing your hoya in a clear container, take care not to overwater it as the water can accumulate and cause root rot or leaf spot. If this happens then cut back on watering until the soil is just barely moist when squeezed by hand.
Fertilizer
Hoya plants should be fertilized once every two weeks during the warmer months and less often in cooler temperatures. An all-purpose soluble plant fertilizer diluted according to package instructions can be used, or you can use a cacti/succulent mix with micro nutrients for hoya plants.
Make sure not to overfertilize the plants as this can damage them – once per month is sufficient for most situations. If you notice the leaf tips burning, then it is likely that you are giving too much fertilizer or direct sun was allowed to shine on the leaves while they were wet after watering.
Temperature
Hoya Villosa does best at normal room temperature, between 60 and 80 degrees Fahrenheit. During the summer, it can tolerate warmer temperatures above 90 degrees Fahrenheit for short periods of time provided that humidity is kept high.
If your plant becomes dry or cold at night, you can put it on a windowsill where it will get plenty of indirect sunlight from the sun’s warmth. If a cool draft comes in through a window or you have closed all windows and no direct light is getting to your plant, try putting it on top of your refrigerator where there will be some heat coming from below as well as nearby plants that release moisture into the air.
Humidity
Hoya plants do well in normal room humidity, but they will benefit from being grown on a tray of wet pebbles or misted with water. If your hoya is exposed to very dry air it can lose some leaves – this is not harmful and the plant should replace them within several weeks as long as you are keeping it moist.
The ideal humidity range is 40-55%. If your home is too dry, you can increase humidity by misting the plant daily or standing it on a tray of wet pebbles.
Pruning
Pruning Hoya plants is not necessary, but you can shear it back by half if the stems become too long. You should keep your hoya trimmed to promote bushy growth and prevent legginess which allows for more flowers on new growth.
If a stem becomes brown or starts to rot at the base, prune off the stem at the base of the plant with a sharp, sterile pair of pruning shears.
When to repot
Hoya villosa should be repotted every other year or so in a fresh mix of cactus potting soil, peat moss and sand. You can also use a succulent/cacti mix from your local garden center as long as it has been formulated with hoya plants specifically in mind – some will have more perlite than others which is better for drainage.
If you want to repot into a decorative container such as a hanging pot, choose one that has at least one large drainage hole and can hold all of the soil without it spilling out.
When transplanting your hoya plant, ensure there are adequate drain holes so excess water can escape from the bottom – this will prevent overwatering and give your hoya the best chance of thriving.
Dormancy
Some hoya plants go dormant in the winter, but this is not true of all species. Hoya villosa does not need to be brought indoors during dormancy – it will do fine outside with some protection from frost or freezing temperatures.
If you want your plant to start flowering on new growth then keep it potted year-round and give it bright light during the day, but no direct sun which can burn its leaves.
If your hoya villosa plant is growing well with lots of new growth and you want to speed up flowering time, then cut off all green leafy growth in December or January (fall/winter). It will produce flower buds within a few weeks even if it is not in flower at the time.
You can also cut off all vegetative growth if your hoya has stopped flowering and you want to make it start again or grow new plants from cuttings – this will allow for more light, warmth, and air circulation which encourages root development.
Flowers & Fragrance
Hoya plants can produce small white flowers which appear continuously as new growth appears. Once the flower has dropped off, don’t be surprised if you see a single tiny bud in its place – it will open in about another week or so and continue flowering all summer long!
Some hoya produces lightly scented flowers that smell like honey (hoya carnosa) while others have no scent at all.
Hoya villosa has flowers with a sweet fragrance that attract hummingbirds – they are thought to be pollinated by night-flying insects such as sphinx moths and hawk moths that can see the ultraviolet colors of hoya flowers in low light conditions.
Growth rate & Uses
Hoya plants like to be in hanging baskets with lots of drainages and can grow up to around 20 inches (50cm) tall. Hoya villosa is a slow-growing plant that will produce flowers when it has about six or seven leaves, but you may see the first flower appear on new growth rather than full-grown stems like other hoya species.
Toxicity
Hoya plants are poisonous and you should keep them away from pets and children. The sap can cause skin irritation if exposed to it so wear gloves when handling your hoya plant or any other part of the plant which contains a milky white juice called latex (laticifers).
If you get some of this sap in your eyes, rinse them immediately for at least 15 minutes with water and seek medical attention if irritation persists.
The juice is poisonous, but not deadly, to pets and children – it causes nausea or vomiting if ingested.
USDA Hardiness Zones
Hoya plants are tropical and can’t tolerate freezing temperatures, but there is some variation between species with the hardiest being able to withstand frost on mild winters (zones 11-12) while others such as Hoya carnosa prefer hot weather and cannot tolerate any cold (zone 12b/13).
Pests and diseases
Hoya plants are generally pest-free, but mealybugs have been known to attack hoyas. Keep your plant out of the reach of pets and children as it is poisonous if ingested – wear gloves when handling or repotting it.
Conclusion
Hoya plants are not plants for beginners and require a lot of attention with most species preferring bright light, humid conditions, and warm temperatures.
Hoya flowers may be white or appear in a range of different colors from pink to dark red – they can have fragrance or none at all depending on the plant variety.
